Local same-sex marriage advocates voiced their disappointment this week, following reports of local businessmen’s financial contributions to Protectmarriage.com, an organization trying to qualify a November ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage. Community leaders and activists, however, were divided by proposed boycotts.

A story in Saturday’s San Diego Union-Tribune listed Mission Valley developer Terry Caster, owner of A1 Self Storage, and developer Douglas Manchester, owner of the Manchester Grand Hyatt and the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, as two of the largest local contributors. Caster donated $162,500, and Manchester donated $125,000 to the campaign for the initiative, which would amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments March 4 on the California Marriage Cases, which challenge current state law prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying.

The story also noted a $50,000 contribution from La Jolla businessman Robert Benson, and a $25,000 donation from Robert Hoehn, owner of Hoehn Motors in Carlsbad.

Messages left Wednesday for Manchester and Caster were not returned.

While some called for a boycott of Manchester-owned properties, A1 Self Storage and Hoehn Motors, others said a boycott would be misdirected and may deter from defeating the ballot initiative.

“Certainly these businesses don’t like the word ‘boycott,’ and neither do I under these circumstances,” said Joyce Marieb, executive director of the Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA). “I don’t think [a boycott] would be helpful or directed at the right people.”

The San Diego LGBT Community Center issued a statement Wednesday, asking activists and allies to “keep [their] focus on the critically-important effort to defeat this discriminatory ballot measure.”

Delores A. Jacobs, CEO of The Center, said it is important to distinguish between a formal boycott and “people exercising their constitutional rights to encourage their partners, families and friends to support only fair and supportive businesses.”

A large-scale formal boycott would consume time, energy and resources that could be used to help keep this measure from qualifying, she said.

“This effort is struggling now, and as we come closer to [Protectmarriage.com’s] deadline, their efforts are becoming more aggressive,” she said. “New paid signature gatherers have entered the county, and their tactics are less than fair and are more aggressive. If we divert our energy and attention to a formal boycott and, as a result, lose this battle on the ground that would break my heart.

“If we keep them from qualifying, we send an important message to the Supreme Court. If we lose and it qualifies for the [November] ballot, this becomes a $20 million fight, and the battle will consume all of our resources, time and energy. Making certain businesses know that we vote with our feet and our wallets is good – making sure we educate every San Diegan about what they are really signing and their right to decline to sign is vital.”

The Center and San Diego Pride met with the general manager and a marketing rep of the Manchester Grand Hyatt Feb. 25 to share concerns. According to Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride, there has not been a follow up discussion.

“I’m not sure whether a boycott is the right thing to do,” said deHarte, noting the Hyatt’s perfect rating in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2007 Buying for Equality Index, a guide to GLBT-friendly companies products and services. “We’d be boycotting a corporate entity that is one of the leaders in GLBT rights.”

Nicole Murray-Ramirez, National Gay Lesbian Task Force board member and past state chair of Equality California, said, however, a statewide and national boycott would send a strong message to the businessmen.

“I plan to educate and ask national and statewide organizations to support a boycott,” said Murray-Ramirez, who also plans to organize pickets outside the Manchester-owned properties during San Diego Pride. “I am disappointed and saddened by The Center and the GSDBA’s inaction, and I will be in touch with their national organizations to ask for support.”

Meanwhile, residents voiced their concerns with the local businesses.

Michael Fletcher, who has been a customer of Hoehn Motors off and on since 2001, contacted Robert Hoehn Tuesday to express his concern.

“In the eyes of someone who’s been dragged out of his car and beat with a tire tool, I explained to him his actions, in many ways, contribute to that behavior,” said Fletcher, who was a victim of a hate crime in his Texas hometown. “It’s appalling. When the gays are in the news, whether it’s good or bad news, it sparks hate.”

Hoehn, who spoke with the Gay & Lesbian Times Wednesday, said the Union-Tribune’s story was “incendiary” and not balanced.

“I hate to be pigeonholed in the anti-gay category – that is not me,” Hoehn said. “I think nomenclature is a part of the problem. When I agreed to support the initiative, I made it clear that I would not support an anti-gay agenda. I do feel strongly, though, that the government should not have a role in defining marriage for faith-based institutions. I feel strongly that the church – Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, whatever it may be – should be allowed to protect marriage as a sacramental tenet between a man and a woman.”

Hoehn said he supports civil unions with full, equal rights for same-sex couples. Fletcher agreed the word “marriage” clouds the issue.

“He seemed to feel strongly that [same-sex couples] should be allowed every single right afforded under marriage, and in a way that protects the sanctity of the church,” Fletcher said. “He was receptive to the discussion.”